Meaning
The arched eyebrow; the curved bow of the brow.
Literally: the bend of the eyebrow
How Iqbal uses it
The curve of the eyebrow, the kham of the abru, is the archer's bow that, with the eyelash for its arrow, looses the wounding glance.
See it in the verse
Abru-e-Kham in Iqbal’s couplets
Pukhta hoti hai agar maslahat-andesh ho aql
Ishq ho maslahat-andesh to hai khaam abhi
Ishq ho maslahat-andesh to hai khaam abhi
Reason ripens when it learns to calculate advantage; but love that calculates advantage is still unripe.
Love · Courage · Action
Teri zindagi isi se teri aabru isi se
Jo rahi khudi to shahi na rahi to ru-siyahi
Jo rahi khudi to shahi na rahi to ru-siyahi
Your life depends on this, your honour depends on this: if selfhood remains you reign like a king, if it is lost only disgrace remains.
Selfhood · Courage · Self-Knowledge